Removal of background noise of image data by an image processing device or image reading apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image processing device includes a background noise detecting device configured to detect from image data of an image, background noise data of the image data. An image memory stores the image data, and an inputting/outputting device inputs and outputs the image data into and from the image memory. A background noise data removing device removes the background noise data from the image data outputted from the image memory by the inputting/outputting device. An on/off device turns on and off a background noise data removing operation of the background noise data removing device according to an external control signal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to the removal of background data from image data by an image processing device or image reading apparatus.

[0003] 2. Discussion of the Background

[0004] In the field of image processing and image reading, it is often desirable to remove background noise from image data representing an image. The removal of background noise is an improvement in the quality of a duplicated image.

[0005] A disadvantage of a conventional image processing device or image reading apparatus, such as a digital copying machine, is that a background noise removing function cannot be switched on and off during a print job. This is disadvantageous, as in some documents, it is desirable for only portions of the document to have background noise removed. For example, it would be desirable in a document that included both text and pictures to remove any background noise below a certain threshold in the text portion, while not removing any of the background noise in the picture portion. The removal of background noise from duplicated text will insure that the text appears in its original form, while removal of background noise in a duplicated picture may cause deterioration of the quality of the duplicated picture. Accordingly, there is a long felt need for an image processing device or image reading apparatus that can selectively remove background noise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-discussed and other problems and addresses the above-discussed and other problems.

[0007] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus comprising a background noise detector, memory, and a background noise remover. The background noise detector is arranged to detect background noise from image data of an image. The memory is arranged to store image data. The background noise remover is arranged to remove background noise detected by the background noise detector from image data stored in the memory. The background noise remover can be enabled or disabled in response to a control signal. As the background noise is removed from the image data after the image data is stored in the memory, the removal of the background noise can be selectively enabled or disabled in response to a control signal. These embodiments are advantageous, as a document can be duplicated with portions having background noise removal and portions not having background noise removal. Further, this advantage can be accomplished by scanning the original document only once.

[0008] In embodiments of the present invention, the memory is arranged to store the background noise data detected by the background noise detector with the corresponding image data. In embodiments of the present invention, the background noise data corresponds to the image data in a main scanning direction of the image. In embodiments of the present invention, the background noise detector detects the background noise intensity level of at least a portion of the image data.

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention also relate to a method of detecting background data from image data of an image, storing the image data in a memory, removing detected background data from image data stored in the memory, and enabling or disabling the removing of detected background noise data in response to a control signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating electrical connection of a digital copying machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a background noise detecting device of the digital copying machine;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a background noise removing device of the digital copying machine;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a timing chart illustrating a process of the digital copying machine;

[0015]FIG. 5 illustrates a process of a background noise removing device; and FIGS. 6A1, 6A2, 6B1, 6B2, 6C1, and 6C2 are diagrams illustrating a process of a digital copying machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, an embodiment of the present invention are described.

[0017]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating electrical connection of a digital copying machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the digital copying machine 1, image data of an image of an original document is photo-electrically converted by CCD 2. CCD 2 is a photo-electrical converting element. The converted image data is processed by a predetermined signal process at a signal processing part 3, and is then converted from analog data to digital data by an A/D converter 4. A shading part 5 then performs shading correction processes for the black side and the white side on the digital data, so that image data Drd0, in which illumination variation, and sensitivity variation of the CCD 2 have been corrected, is outputted. The image data Drd0 is inputted into a background noise detecting device 6 so that background noise data of the image data Drd0 is detected. An image processing part 7 performs onto image data a Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) correction process, a filtering process, a magnification changing process, and a 7 conversion process. A background noise data removing part 8 removes background noise data of image data. Image data after having been processed with the above-described processes is modulated at an optical writing part 9, and is converted to an exposure beam according to the image data by a laser diode 10. The image is electrophotographically formed by the exposure beam. An image memory 11 stores image data processed by the image processing part 7. A CPU 12 controls each part of the digital copying machine 1. An operation part 13 receives various operating instructions from a user. The digital copying machine 1 may be connected to a network 14, such as a LAN, via a predetermined interface.

[0018] As illustrated in FIG. 2, at background noise detecting device 6, if a background noise removing mode is set, a background noise detecting block 21 detects background noise data Dba from the image data Drd0 after having been processed with the shading correction processes. A synthesizing part 24 serving as an adding device adds the background noise data Dba for “m” picture elements to image data of a following line at the forefront thereof in a main scanning direction so as to be image data Drd1 (see FIG. 4), and outputs the image data Drd1 to the image processing part 7 at the next step. The background noise detecting device 6 outputs at the same time a gate signal BaGATE indicating a position in the image data where the background noise data Dba is attached.

[0019] In the background noise detecting block 21, a filter 22 applies a filtering process for smoothing image data to the image data Drd0 to remove a noise effect, and thereafter a peak-hold circuit 23 peak-holds the image data Drd0, so that the background noise data Dba is precisely detected.

[0020] By making the background noise data Dba to a size for “m” picture elements, which is larger than a size of a filter of the image processing part 7 at a subsequent step, the background noise data Dba is not changed at a center part thereof, asserted with the gate signal BaGATE, by an effect of data outside of the gate of the gate signal BaGATE, and thereby background density information remains stored in the image memory 11.

[0021] In embodiments of the present invention, a method of using the gate signal BaGATE is used as described above for identifying a background noise data area of image data. A similar effect can be obtained by fixing the size of background noise data, e.g., the number of picture elements, to be added at the forefront of image data in advance. However, by identifying a background noise data area of image data with a gate signal, even when the size of a filter of the image processing part 7 differs between models, an algorithm for detecting background noise data at the image processing part 7 needs not be changed according to the size of the filter of the image processing part 7. Accordingly, a common algorithm for detecting background noise data can be used at the image processing part 7 and the background noise removing device 8. Therefore, in these embodiments, the method of outputting the gate signal BaGATE is used.

[0022] The outputted image data Drd1 is stored in the image memory 11 by the image processing part 7 serving as an inputting/outputting device.

[0023] When printing out the image data Drd1, the image data Drd1 is read out from the image memory 11, and based upon information inputted from the operation part 13 or a host computer connected with the network 14 and in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 12, the image processing part 7 performs necessary image processing processes (e.g., MTF correction, magnification changing, y conversion, etc.) and the background noise data removing device 8 performs a background noise removing process on the image data Drd1.

[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the background noise data removing device 8, a background noise data extracting part 31 detects from image data Dwr and the gate signal BaGATE read out from the image memory 11, background noise data Dba′ after having been processed with the image processing processes. Here, if the background noise data Dba′ itself is set as a threshold value Dth1′ for discriminating background noise data from image data, a part of the background noise data Dba′, corresponding to background noise caused by an effect of the image processing processes, may be outputted as image data. Accordingly, for avoiding the part of the background noise data Dba′, corresponding to background noise caused by an effect of the image processing processes, from being outputted as image data, one of the following operations is performed at an offset part 32 to obtain another threshold value Dth2;

[0025] 1. Subtracting predetermined data for offsetting, i.e., Dth2=Dth1′−offsetting data,

[0026] 2. Subtracting a predetermined ratio of image data, i.e., Dth2=Dth1′×(1−α),

[0027] 3. Combining the above-described operations 1 and 2, i.e., Dth2=Dth1′×(1α)−offsetting data.

[0028] Thereafter, the threshold value Dth2 obtained as above and the image data Dwr are inputted into terminals A and B of a comparator 33, respectively, and by controlling the comparator 33 according to the conditions as indicated by a table of FIG. 5, background noise data of image data is removed.

[0029] Specifically, by controlling an EN terminal of the comparator 33 with a control signal from the CPU 12, the control signal is controlled to be at a H level where a comparator function of the comparator 33 is turned on (i.e., a background noise removing mode is set) or at an L level where the comparator function is turned off so that an outputting level of the comparator 33 is fixed to the H level (i.e., the background noise removing mode is released). Thereby, image data Dwr1 in which background noise data has been removed or image data Dwr1 in which background noise data has not been removed can be selectively outputted from a selector 34. Thus, turning on or off a background noise removing function for image data is controlled by the CPU 12.

[0030] Further, as described above, the background noise data removing part 8 is arranged downstream of the image memory 11. Accordingly, switching between turning on and off the background noise data removing function is realized without a need of reading an image of an original document a second time.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 6A1, 6A2, 6B1, 6B2, 6C1, and 6C2, a background noise data removing function is described in relation to changes in the gamma (γ) and image data of an image.

[0032] The image data Drd which has been read has the characteristics indicated by the diagrams illustrated in FIGS. 6A1 and 6A2. FIG. 6A1 illustrates the γ characteristics of image information (image density) of an image of an original document and of the image data Drd, and FIG. 6A2 illustrates the image data Drd viewed in the main scanning direction, in which the background noise data Dba is added.

[0033] The image data Drd is thereafter processed with MTF correction and γ conversion processes by the image processing part 7 so as to have the characteristics indicated by the diagrams of FIGS. 6B1 and 6B2. FIG. 6B1 illustrates the y characteristics of the image data Drd and the image data Dwr0 after having been processed with the image processing processes, and FIG. 6B2 illustrates the image data Dwr0 after having been processed with the image processing processes, viewed in the main scanning direction in which the background noise data Dba′ is added.

[0034] From FIGS. 6A1, 6A2, 6B1 and 6B2, one of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that the gamma γ has been converted, the background noise data has been changed, and the image information (image density) has been changed.

[0035] The image data Dwr1 having been processed with the background noise data removing process has the characteristics indicated by the diagrams of FIGS. 6C1 and 6C2. FIG. 6C1 illustrates the γ characteristics of the image data Drd and the image data Dwr1 after having been processed with the background noise data removing process, and FIG. 6C2 illustrates the image data Dwr1 after having been processed with the background noise data removing process, viewed in the main scanning direction, in which the threshold value Dth level data is added. From FIGS. 6C1 and 6C2, it can be understood that the background noise data has been removed and the image information has been kept stored.

[0036] In the image processing part 7, if the γ conversion process is performed at an earlier stage of image processing processes at the image processing part 7, e.g., before a MTF correction process, because the gamma γ may be changed by the MTF correction process, the y conversion process needs to be performed again after the MTF correction process. Accordingly, the image processing part 7 may be configured such that the γ conversion process is performed at the last stage in the image processing processes at the image processing part 7 for avoiding the γ conversion process from being repeatedly performed.

[0037] Further, it is widely practiced to change the order of performing various image processing processes in accordance with an image forming mode or a magnification ratio. Accordingly, depending upon various conditions, e.g., image forming modes, the order of performing the function of the background noise removing device 8 can be exchanged with that of performing each function of the image processing part 7, so as to realize further increasing the image quality.

[0038] Numerous additional modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

[0039] The present application claims priority and contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-073503 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Mar. 15, 2001, and the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 

What is claimed:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a background noise detector arranged to detect background noise data from image data of an image; a memory configured to store image data; and a background noise remover configured to remove background noise data detected by the background detector from image data stored in the memory, wherein the background remover can be enabled or disabled in response to a control signal.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to store background noise data detected by the background noise detector with corresponding image data.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein background noise data corresponds to image data in a main scanning direction of the image.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the background noise detector is configured to detect the background noise intensity level of at least a portion of the image data.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform image processing apparatus.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform image reading apparatus.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform optical reading apparatus.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to read the image data from an image.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to duplicate the image.
 10. An apparatus, comprising: means for detecting background noise data from image data; means for storing image data; means for removing background noise data from image data; and means for enabling or disabling removal of background noise data from image data.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means for storing background noise data with corresponding image data.
 12. A method comprising steps of: detecting background noise data from image data of an image; storing image data in a memory; removing detected background noise data from image data stored in the memory; and enabling or disabling the removing of detected background noise data in response to a control signal.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein in the step of storing image data in the memory comprises storing corresponding image data with background noise data detected in the step of detecting background noise data.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein background noise data corresponds to image data in a main scanning direction of the image.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the background noise data is background noise intensity level data of at least a portion of the image data.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the method comprises performing image processing.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the method comprises performing image reading.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the method comprises performing optical reading.
 19. The method of claim 12, comprising the further step of reading image data from an image.
 20. The method of claim 12, wherein the method comprises performing image duplication. 